Picture hook and molding.



No. 66!,557. Patented Nov. l3, I900.

' G. SOHWAB.

PICTURE HOOK AND MOLDING.

(Application filed. Apr. 12. 1900.)

GUSTAV SOHWAB, or BOSTON, MAssAcnUsE'rrs.

PICTURE HOOK AND MOLDING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letterslatent No. 661,557, dated November13, 1906.

Application filed April 12, 1900. serial No. 12.556. (No time.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GUSTAV SoHwAB, aciti- Zen of the United States,residing in Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented new and useful Improvements in Picture Hooks and Moldings,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a structure which is practically a continuouspicture-hookthat is to say, a plate or series of plates formed intodownwardly-extending integral picture-hooks so numerous and so neartogether that pictures can be hung thereupon at any desired point, saidplate being sustained by and behind a picture-molding.

By the employment of this invention the use of the ordinarypicture-hooks can be entirely discontinued and the molding may be madein any desired shape or style and conform, if desired, to the otherarchitectural features of the room.

Among the advantages of substituting my improvement for the ordinarystyle picturehook and the elimination of the present arbitrarily-shapedmolding may be mentioned the avoidance of any possibility of the fallinghooks, of the necessity for moving them from place to place on themolding, or of applying and detaching them, the ease with which apicture may be hung in any position or changed from one position toanother, the additional strength of the support forthe hook, and thefact that the continuous hook and the molding may be so constructed orcoloredas to form a consistent and ornamental finish.

The nature of the invention is fully described in detail below andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aperspective view showing a molding and picture-hook embodying myinvention, said molding being applied to a wall. Fig. 2 is a crossvertical section of the molding. Fig. 3 is a cross vertical section ofthe plate or continuous hook removed. Fig. ais a perspective view of aportion of the plate or continuous hook separated from the molding.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents a portion of the wall of a room.

B is the molding. The molding shown in the drawings is of the shape ofthat now in common use, such shaped molding being adapted to support theordinary style of picture-hook. For use in connection with my presentinvent-ion, however, this inoldinginay be of any desired shape and maybe made to conform to any style of architecture. In fact, it may beperfectly flat, like a chair-rail, if desired. The molding is providedon its rear side with a horizontal groove 0, said groove extendingpreferably downward at substantially the angle shown in Fig. 2.

D represents a continuous strip of metal,

preferably of brass, the upper edge D of said strip being bent downwardat an angle to the main portion D, which corresponds with the angle ofthe groove 0. Extending down from the lower edge of this strip D andintegral therewith are a number of hooks E. Each of these hooks extendsdown vertically and has its end bent up into substantially the shapeshown, and said hooks may be as numerous as desired, the object being topractically occupy the space at the lower edge of the molding, so that aperson can hang a picture on the wall at any point without the use ofany means other than my contrivance. The strip or plate D is set flatagainst the rear side of the molding B, with its bent portion Dextending into the groove 0. The portion of the rear side of the moldingbelow the groove is on a plane which is slightly forward of the plane ofthe portion above the groove, theintention being to allow for thethickness of the plate and hooks D E, so that when the molding is inposition on the wall there will be just room enough behind its lowerportion to accommodate the plate or strip D, as illustrated in Fig. 1.Preferably the hooks E are made of such a length as to extend butslightly below the lower edge of the molding in order that they maypresent the effect of being a part-and a not unornamental partof themolding. The molding may be at tached to the wall by drivingin suitablenails or brads between the shanks of the hooks.

As the plate D, with its lip D, is a continuous piece, the support ofthe hooks is con tinuous and absolutely secure, as well as invisible.Moreover, as the pull is directly In picture-galleries, whether ICOprivate or public, this device is exceedingly useful, inasmuch .as theuse of individual hooks, lifting them into position,'removing them, andchanging their positions is done away With. Moreover, the distributionof the strain along-the groove enables the hooks to sustai n a largenumber of pictures with safety.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, thehorizontal plate D provided with a plurality of down wardly-extendinghooks E and formed with a lip or flange at its upper edge; and a moldingprovided on its rear side with a horizontal groove adapted to receivesaid lip, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, thehorizontal plate D provided with a plurality of downwardly-extendinghooks E and formed with the downwardlybent lip or flange D; and amolding provided on its rear side With the downwardly-extendinghorizontal groove 0 of suitable shape and at the proper angle to receivesaid lip, sub stantially as set forth.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, thehorizontal plate D provided with a plurality of downwardly-extendinghooks Eand formed with the downwardlybent lip or flange D; and a moldingprovided on its rear side with the downwardly-extending horizontalgroove 0 of suitable shape and at the proper angle to receive said lip,the rear sides of said molding below the groove being recessed toreceive said plate flush with the portion of the rear side above thegroove,

substantially as described.

